Motorist Accused Of Killing Murrieta Pedestrian In Temecula Arraigned

MURRIETA, CA — A motorist accused of killing a 39-year-old pedestrian in a DUI collision at a Temecula intersection pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder and other charges.

Jonathan Ruiz, 38, of Bellflower, in Los Angeles County, was arrested last month after a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the death of David Heard of Murrieta.

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Along with murder, Ruiz is charged with DUI resulting in injury or death and several sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegations.

The defendant was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Sept. 17 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Ruiz is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the nearby Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Joseph Sinz, shortly before 7 p.m. on July 24, Ruiz allegedly erratically drove through the intersection of Rancho California Road and Riesling Court, triggering a three-vehicle wreck that caused major damage to all of the vehicles involved.

Heard was walking within the intersection at the time and was hit, according to the sergeant.

Sinz said patrol deputies and paramedics reached the location a short time later and pronounced Heard dead at the scene.

"Two passengers from one of the vehicles were transported to a hospital in stable condition," the sheriff's spokesman said.

They're now recovering at home.

Sinz alleged that Ruiz, who didn't attempt to flee and wasn't injured, was confirmed by deputies to be under the influence and was taken into custody without incident.

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. Information on possible convictions in other jurisdictions wasn't available.

When a DUI murder charge is filed, it's generally because the accused has a prior conviction for intoxicated driving, or a related offense, and should have been aware of the risks involved with repeating the behavior.